Obituary
Gertrude Beatrice (Day) Furneaux
June 6, 1927 – May 1st, 2022
It is with very heavy hearts and profound sadness mixed with a sense of some relief that we announce the passing of our beautiful, dear mother, Gertrude (fondly known as Trudy) Beatrice Furneaux. Mom, at 94, was only a month shy of her 95th bday when she passed on May 1st, 2022, in the warmth of her own home. Predeceased by her loving husband, Doug Furneaux (2019) and beloved grandson Andrew Furneaux (2019), parents, Gladys and William Day, brothers, Frank, Ralph and Harold Day as well as in-laws, Elizabeth Day, Marg (Dawe) Day and Mildred Begg; James Begg, Otto Ebert, Frank Fieser and John Crosbie.
Leaving to mourn with a lifetime of wonderful, happy memories are her children: Jeff (Betty), Guy (Annette) and Karen (Jerry Baird); loving grandchildren Jeffrey (Heather), John (Lesley), Heather, Josh – now known as Karissa (Lee), James (Tiffany), Nicholas (Erin) and Erin(Adam), eight beautiful great grandchildren (Nash, Piper, Malia, Audrey, Halle, Shea, Victoria and Grace); treasured and dearly loved and devoted sister, Lorraine Day and dearly loved brother Melville (Mick) Day; special sister-in-laws, Millicent Day, Jane Crosbie, Heather Fieser, Midge Ebert and Margaret Day. Also, a number of well loved nieces, nephews, relatives and friends at Wesley Church Exercise class. Her beloved fur family – Marley, Otee, Twiggy, Rosie, Guinness, Luka, Jiggs and Bailey will also miss her love and tender touch.
Cremation has taken place. No visitation as per Mom’s request. A service will be held at Wesley Church on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm for family and friends. Mom (or Nan as we called her) will be interred together with Dad and grandson, Andrew Furneaux at Forest Road Anglican Cemetery. Donations in Gertrude’s memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. We ask friends and family to plant a favorite flower in a garden this summer. If Mom is nearby, you will watch it bloom in all it’s glory.
Mom grew up in a tiny home her grandfather and father built on Cornwall Avenue. As a little girl Bowering Park was her playground. She visited the Park with friends daily in her childhood years. Her parents raised 6 kids in a warm and loving home. Mom was the only girl amongst 4 brothers (Frank, Ralph, Harold and Melville) until her baby sister, Lorraine came along 15 yrs later. Being the only girl amongst 4 brothers made her a “Tomboy” and a bit of a “Scrapper”. She always said she had to “fight for my rights! and stand up for myself” amongst her brothers who continuously tried to boss her around. One thing we all knew about Mom was; no one was going to be “the Boss of her”. Her scrappy and fearless attitude and strong will was apparent even in her final days doggedly fighting to stay with us. She was kind hearted, generous, gracious and extremely honest as well as a real lady, too. A bit of a Spitfire, she always walked to the beat of her own drum! As a true Gemini, she could never make up her mind!
When Mom was in Grade 9, her Mother withdrew her from school to work in a family run Wholesale Business located on the West end of Water Street. Mom was heartbroken to have been made to leave school and despised working in that family business. Being removed from school became a pivotal point which crowned the rest of her life. She had a thirst for knowledge, evident in her keen desire to read National Geographic from front to back as she did with many other books she read and collected. She had a strong thirst to learn new words, their meanings, constructions and spelling. She was an exceptional speller. She took pride in her amazing cursive writing, which held up to perfection even after her recent stroke. Mom was a “Life Long Learner” and knew how important education was since it had been taken from her. She never had a say in her own education but advocated and promoted the importance of education to all of her own children and grandchildren. Obtaining an education had become so immensely important to her.
When Mom was 19, she met Dad through a mutual friend. Dad took an instant shine to her upon meeting and quickly asked her out. And as it was referred to in those days, Mom and Dad courted for a couple of years before Dad left for NYC. Mom wasn’t one to stay home and sit idle while waiting for Dad. Like most of her peers, she went to the dances at Pepperall base, and courted others in his absence. As Dad finally came to his senses, he realized Mom was the love of his life and the woman for him. He returned from America and romantically proposed to her on Valentine’s Day.
As newly weds, they hand built their own home together. Mom swung a hammer right next to Dad as they built their love nest together. Their lumber was cut on their land and milled across the street from them in Airport Heights. Their foundation was built from the sand off Middle Cove Beach, their floor beams were recycled tracks from the Bell Island Mine. They ran a milkshake/burger joint/convenience store out of their new home and took in tenants downstairs to make ends meet. As their lives evolved, they built a couple of different businesses in Construction and Residential Real Estate. Mom worked in the home office as Bookeeper while Dad managed his crews and construction jobs he secured and completed. Beside office duties, Mom was also “thee” Domestic Engineer for 70 + years.
She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and a proud great grandmother. She, like Dad, was a jokester, a tormenter with a fiesty and mischievous personality with a twinkle in her eye. You had to be “on your toes” when dealing with our Mother because you couldn’t pull one over on her. To all of us, she was “a pure treasure”. She was a “Gardener Extraordaire” with a wealth of knowledge of what could be grown in town and in our province. She grew every flower, plant or vegetable imaginable for this climate. Her garden was her passion and where she found her peace.
Mom and Dad lived a healthy, organic lifestyle before it was hip. Every Saturday, they made regular trips to Mary Jane’s Health food store during the ‘70s and ‘80s. She was an avid reader of Prevention Health Magazine and they grew their own vegetables and ate “garden to table” as much as possible. Both led an active life style and embrace various activites such as swimming, badminton, skating (at the old Memorial Stadium) into their 70s. In their 80s and 90s, they participated twice a week in exercise classes in Wesley Church basement.
Mom was a fine cook and could produce a very tasty meal with a beautiful table setting. She loved to use her fine china when guests were around. She was always welcoming to anyone who “poked their head in the door” to say hello. All of her grandchildren will hold memories tight of her beautifully decorated cupcakes she made each year. Every one of them got the same when their birthdays rolled around along with a special gift.
She and Dad travelled quite a bit throughout Europe, the Caribbean, US, Hawaii, China and Japan. When we went to China with her, Dad and Aunt Lorraine, Mom fulfilled her dream of walking on the Great Wall of China at 84 years of age. Her motto was “Never say Never!”.
Mom loved to read Nursery Rhymes, recite poetry to her children and grandchildren. She was a Shirley Temple fan (being the same age) and loved all of Beatrix Potter’s books. She was even an author of a children’s Christmas book entitled “The Four Little Bears”. She was a big time shopper but also a grand returner (buyer’s remorse) of whatever she bought. She was a year younger than Queen Elizabeth and an ardent royal fan. She admired the Queen, who she said, carried herself with such grace and dignity as she dealt with many royal issues. She absolutely loved music and sang along to records. She learned to play piano at 68. As a Regatta Gambler, she loved to play the Cash Wheels and would devour a Samosa afterwards. She loved purchasing her weekly Lotto Max and 6-49 tickets and was always waiting for the big WIN and would tell us how she would share it with our family!
Mom deeply loved all of us with her whole heart and supported most of our endeavours. Her children live by her example, marching to the beat of our own drums.
Right til the final weeks before she moved on, she was as sharp as a tac, but her almost 95 year old body gave out. Our hearts broke watching her suffer so much because she just never wanted to leave.
Godspeed, Mom.
Your love, your inner and outer beauty, your grace, your kindness and your colorful personality will never be forgotten. We will try to lead by your example and treat people with the same love, kindness and respect you gave us all.
We will love and miss you forever more. May you find peace in your new garden with Dadand Andrew. Love you forever more. xoxoxo
Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gertrude Beatrice Furneaux 2022..
Death notice for the town of: St-John’s, Province: T-N